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Chefs for the Keys event on Oct. 6 will benefit hurricane victims

Property damage and financial hardship are widespread in the Florida Keys in the wake of Hurricane Irma, and many residents are desperate.

Chef Adam Brown of The Cooper in Palm Beach Gardens, along with En-Flux private chef Troy Sheller, are organizing a massive effort to help food and beverage hospitality employees who are out of work.

“It all started as a Facebook post,” Brown said. “The response was spontaneous and amazing.
I can’t believe all the people who want to help. Thankfully, it’s growing into an area-wide, collaborative program.”

All proceeds will benefit the food and beverage hospitality workers in the Florida Keys who are out of work due to the storm. The money is being donated to the Islamorada Beer Company team, founders of the Florida Keys Fund/Gotta Love Them Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, to make sure all proceeds are distributed to those individuals.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of the Keys,” Sheller said. “It forms the basis of the economy, and the area can’t survive without restaurants and bars. If Palm Beach County had been hit just as hard, we would be suffering equally. It’s gratifying for us that we can lend a helping hand to people in the industry.”

The relief effort is twofold:

The participating chefs and restaurants have agreed to donate a percentage of their daily revenue from Thursday, Oct. 5, and other services or auction items.

A “Chefs for the Keys” event will be held on Friday, Oct. 6 at the Riviera Beach Marina Village from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $125 and will include food from the area’s top chefs, an open bar, live entertainment, and a silent auction. The event is being emceed by Mo & Sally from KOOL 105.5. Seating is limited, so purchase tickets at com/chefs-for-the-keys. The event facility is being sponsored by Commissioner Dawn Pardo and the Riviera Beach CRA Marina Village Event Center.

“All our customers have to do on Thursday is show up,” Brown said. “Simply by eating and drinking in our restaurants, they’ll be contributing to those affected by Hurricane Irma. By attending the event on Friday, they can make a much larger impact.”